Artificial limb



(No Model.) I

' I P. W. NEUBERT.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

' No. 556,201. Patent ed Mar. 10, 1896.

mi f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIDRICK W. NEUBERT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 556,201, dated March10, 1896.

Application filed December 16, 1895. Serial No. 572,242. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRIDRIOK W. NEUBERT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inArtificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inartificial limbs, and relates more particularly to that portion known asthe toe-joint.

The invention has for its object the provision of novel means whereby ajoint of the above-described class is produced that possesses advantagesin points of strength, durability, and elasticity.

The invention has for its further object to construct a joint of theabove-referred-to class that will be extremely simple in itsconstruction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in View the invention finally consistsin the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to behereinafter more particularly described, and specifically pointed out inthe claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews,in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an artificialfoot provided with my improved joint. Fig. 2 is an underneath plan view,partly in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan View of the hingeand its attachments. Fig. i is an enlarged detail vertical sectionalview of the spring.

In the drawings, A indicates the artificial foot proper; B, the recessedportion formed to receive the ankle-joint attachments.

The reference-letter G indicates the toepiece. The latter is recessed atD on its underneath face, said recess extending rearwardly for thereception of the plate E. This plate is secured in the recess by meansof bolts, screws, or rivets E, and carries on its rear end a yoke F, theends of said yoke being provided with eyelets G G, which engage screwsin the foot portion, thereby forming a hinge. To this plate is rigidlysecured a lug H, having an eyelet in which is secured an arm or bolt I,carrying on its outer end a screw-thread. This arm or bolt extends intothe foot portion through a slot in same, and carries a cone -shapedspiral spring J, the base of said spring resting on the shoulder K,formed in the foot portion, and is retained in position by a nut L,adapted to fit 011 the end of the screw-threaded arm or bolt.

The operation of my improved toe portion for artificial limbs will bereadily apparent.

The body portion is preferably composed of willow Wood to conform withthe balance of the body portion, and the plate carrying the arm or boltis placed in position, as heretofore described. When the parts have beenthus secured in position the yoke and the screw-threaded bolt will actas hinges, allowing the free movement of the toe portion. hen the toeportion operates on its hinges and is forced upwardly, the cone shapedspring on the arm or bolt will act as a means for returning the same toits normal position.

By the use of my improved toe portion a much more free and easy movementis obtained, and many other advantages could be enumerated, principallyamong them being the simplicity of construction, there being no delicatemechanism liable to get out of order or become worn out, and anotheradvantage resides in the construction being such that the portion can bereadily removed and a new one substituted should it become worn ordamaged.

This application for patent should be considered with one granted to meon April 14, 1891, No. 450,297, for an artificial limb, and is animprovement thereon.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A toe portion for artificial limbs having a recess in the underneathside a plate rigidly secured thereon a yoke on the rear of the plate alug secured to the plate and an arm hinged to the lug and resting upon aspring ICC at its inner end, as and for the purpose dethreaded end, andcarrying a nut and cone- 1o scribed. shape spring, substantially asshown and de- 2. In a toe portion for artificial limbs, a scribed.recess in the underneath side of said portion In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature having a plate rigidly secured therein, said inpresence of two Witnesses.

plate having in its rear end a yoke, the arms FRIDRIGK \V. NEUBERT. ofsaid yoke having eyelets in their free ends, itnesses:

a lug secured to the plate, a bolt or arm hinged II. C. EVERT,

to said lug, said belt or arm having a screw- II. E. SEIBERT.

